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Hanso: Georgia is ready for visa-free regime with the EU in the nearest future

19.06.2015 / Press releases, Foreign Affairs Committee

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Hannes Hanso, who participated in the International Conference "Georgia's European Way", thinks that Georgia will be ready for visa-free regime with the European Union in a relatively short time.

“The issue of the visa-free regime had an important place at the Batumi Conference, and I personally believe that Georgia will be ready for it in a relatively short time,” Hanso said.

According to Hanso, Estonia supports Georgia’s aspirations in the Euro-Atlantic direction. “Besides all complicated and burning issues of the day, we want to see the European Union move closer to the Eastern Partnership countries, first of all to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine,” Hanso said. “For us it is a clear priority, but we have to convince other Member States, too.”

Hanso said that on the one hand, Estonia has to demonstrate its support, but on the other hand, the Eastern Partnership countries themselves must also make efforts, as it is possible to help only those who want to help themselves.

In Hanso’s opinion the Batumi Conference proved that Georgia’s active progress in the direction of the EU and NATO continues. “There is a consensus in this regard both in the opposition and in the coalition of Georgia, and this is an important signal for the rest of the world,” Hanso remarked. “The integration of the state as a whole in the direction of Europe is important.”

According to Hanso, an important lesson for the politics of Estonia is that foreign policy cannot be built up on individuals and persons; it is the country that has to be supported.

Hanso attended the 12th International Conference “Georgia’s European Way”, which was held in Batumi on 18 and 19 June. In the framework of the visit, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee had bilateral meetings with Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defence and Minister of Euro-Atlantic Integration, and the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament.